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Method and system for collecting and processing bar code data

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1. er s Accounting Software and the screen for payroll infor mation Once the appropriate screen is selected the command program processes the transactions as they are pulled from log file 17 The command program makes any additional screen and menu selections inserts the transaction data onto the host screen and perform error checking For example the command program might insert the times at which an employee clocked in and clocked out The command pro gram is discussed in greater detail below The sign off program as it s name implies is used to backup from the host screens and log off of the host FIG 20 shows the process for signing on emulating the host screens and then signing off 10 15 35 45 55 18 Command programs are written to handle bar code trans actions One program can handle multiple transactions However each program is composed of five 5 different sections or code blocks for each on line transaction defi nition These sections are the Control section the Screen section the Fill section the Exit section and the Error section All sections except for the Control section have user defined names or labels The Control section is comprised of control lines In a command program there is one control line for each on line transaction handled by the program The program matches the transaction definition number with the appropriate con trol line In addition to the transaction definition num
2. the import will fail and the table record will be unchanged With the Fast File Open feature the user can speed up the importing process Instead of mirror imaging the data base table a backup copy of the table is made before the importing occurs This is helpful if large files are being imported Lastly the user must specify the DOS path As is known the DOS path specifies the name and location of the file to be imported The scrollable region is used to specify how the imported data will be inserted in the database table Each row in the region corresponds to a column in the table For fixed file types the starting position length and column name must be specified If the data to be imported is variable in length only the column name must be specified After completing the import definition the next step is to execute the import A pop up menu will list those tables having an import definition and the user must select a table Messages relate the status of the import as it occurs When the import is complete the user can check for errors Errors are displayed in chronological order The complete record is displayed with a brief explanation of the problem A second utility program allows the user to export data table information to an ASCII format or a format recogniz able by other software products such as Lotus 1 2 3 or dBaseTM The Export Data screen form is used to select a table containing the data to be exported
3. up of bar code transactions containing a plurality of bar code 5 748 899 21 data fields to and from the terminals over a communications line the method comprising the steps of selecting at least one database configuring the terminals testing the terminals each of the steps of selecting configuring and testing is performed from the central location selecting any one of said workstations as the central location wherein said configuring step includes emulating said host computer terminal by associating individual bar code data fields contained in said bar code transactions with the row and column locations of host data fields on said host screen to thereby configure said bar code network to supply bar code transactions to said host computer as if entered through said host computer terminal wherein said testing step includes the steps of choosing a number of terminals in the network to be tested select ing a duration of a test to be conducted and reporting test results based upon the test and wherein said database selecting step includes the steps of identifying a storage location for the collected bar code data and identifying a storage location for validation data and processing programs 2 The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of assigning a bar code printer to any of the terminals from the central location 3 The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the steps of configuring the
4. 364 552 5 291 399 3 1994 Chaco ee 395 203 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Scan Ware Installation Guide Version A 1 0 Sep 1988 Scan Ware Base System User s Manual Version 1 3 Sep 1988 Primary Examiner William M Treat Assistant Examiner Kenneth R Coulter Attorney Agent or Firm Harness Dickey amp Pierce P L C 57 ABSTRACT Method and system for the on line real time collection and processing of bar code data utilizing a bar code data col lection network at least one work station and a host com puter having a database such as a relational database is provided Bar code data collection programs can be inter actively developed and or modified from the workstation which is programmed with menu driven software Bar code transactions are interactively defined and validated from the workstation 8 Claims 13 Drawing Sheets CONFIGURE BAR CODE TERMINALS Driver Number 1 Term No Name Line Number 1 Type Aux Module U S Patent May 5 1998 Sheet 1 of 13 5 748 899 all LES LI Figure 1 U S Patent May 5 1998 Figure 2 Sy IET i HEHH 22 Error message RFT or next prompt validation and editing 17 Sheet 2 of 13 5 748 899 The operator scans one piece of data The card validates and or edits the piece of data When all data is entered the complete transaction is stored on the card The system transfers the completed transaction from the card to
5. Col Col No Input Mask Range Test Type Len Dec From To XXXXX XXXX 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 Figure 16 PROMPTS AND VALIDATION Table Name LOG_OUT Description LOG OUT TOOLS Bar Code Validation Prompt Table Key Seg Please enter your ID employee 1 Please enter the tool tool 1 Please enter expected return date US Patent May 5 1998 Sheet 10 of 13 5 748 899 Figure 17 DEFINE TIMED TRANSACTION Terminal ID Channel Time to Start Duration Figure 20 Host Sign On Screen Call Up Accounting Software Menu Screen 1 Accounting Menu Menu Screen 2 Payroll Menu common screen SIGNOFF SIGNON EMULATION Transaction 1 Transaction 2 Enter Clock In Time Enter Clock Out Times U S Patent May 5 1998 Sheet 11 of 13 5 748 899 Figure 18 4 Get Next Transaction from Card J Look in Logfile None Found for Transaction with Status 10 S Transaction None Found a Type Check Process Data Process Data Set Status to Reflect Processing Set Status to Reflect Results Processing Results U S Patent May 5 1998 Sheet 12 of 13 5 748 899 Figure 19 Transaction Log File TX2 Status 9 HOST COMMUNICATIONS Mainframe Screen PROGRAM Transaction Log File Update Status for TX2 U S Patent May 5 1998 Sheet 13 of 13 5 748 899 Figure 21 PAYROLL MENU Rows 1 to 25 1 CLOCK IN SCREEN 2 CLOCK OUT SCREEN 3 EXIT Row 20 Col
6. card number is not a part of the ID number The OS 2 system is a multi tasking environment Operation of the preferred embodiment is faster because of the way transactions are processed In the embodiment with the card 12 a network having many terminals such as twenty 20 could submit transactions to card 12 at essentially the same moment The transactions however are removed one by one from card 12 and processed Assuming a one second processing time one terminal will have to wait 20 seconds before completing another transaction In the preferred embodiment if these same terminals again submit twenty 20 transactions at essentially the same moment the multi tasking capability of the OS 2 envi ronment allows these transactions to be processed substan tially simultaneously The preferred embodiment also makes use of a graphical user interface similar to the interface employed on MacIn tosh systems Instead of using text menus the graphical user interface makes use of pictures known as icons These pictures typically represent the function performed by the selection To configure the terminals 22 the user uses the Bar Code Terminal Configuration screen form shown in FIG 3 The driver number refers to the software that controls the bar code network This software may be written in the C Programming Language Depending on the size of the network multiple drivers may be required The line number refers to the co proc
7. communications line to each of the terminals and workstations from the central location and of providing default communications line parameters to a user at the central location 4 The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bar code network collects bar code transactions and wherein the method further comprises the step of configuring the termi nals and the controller from the central location to generate maintain and automatically update a backup copy of the bar code transactions as said bar code transaction data is col lected 5 A system for setting up a bar code network from a central location according to the requirements of a user in combination with a host computer operable through a host computer terminal having at least one host screen with host data fields at predetermined row and column locations having at least one database the bar code network including a plurality of data collection terminals a plurality of work stations and a controller for transmitting and receiving bar code data made up of bar code transactions containing a 10 15 35 45 22 plurality of bar code data fields to and from the terminals over a communications line the system comprising means for selecting at least one database means for configuring the terminals means for testing the terminals each of the means for selecting configuring and testing are controlled from the central location wherein any of said workstations is usabl
8. etc and specifies the table s that will interact with the screen The System Report Writer With the Report Writer program the user can design reports that display collected information in any order or format needed Unlike the Auto Report Generator discussed above which provides information from one database table the System Report Writer allows data to be gather from multiple tables Reports can be sent to a printer sent to a bar code terminal display or stored in ASCII format on a disk The System Report Writer is similar is nature to the report writers associated with other commercially available data base packages such as Paradox and RBase When defining and creating a report the user specifies what and how information is to be reported through a series of screen forms The user defines the type screen printer file format and other characteristics like margins number of lines per page header and footers For those users unfamiliar with format characteristics default values are provided by the system Because reports display information from tables the user must select the database table s that store the information to be reported If the report uses data from only one table that table is selected as a target and a key field for locating the information is specified If the report uses data from multiple tables the user specifies a relationship between the participating tables To create this relationship one ta
9. imaging maintains an exact duplicate of every record in log file 17 In this way a backup is always available Because mirror imaging can degrade performance while operating the default is for no mirror imaging The system 10 also provides the capability to assign printers to specified terminals on the network This feature allows multiple data collection terminals to share the same printer The assignment of a printer to a specified terminal is accomplished by specifying a destination terminal where printer output should be sent for each terminal on the bar code network Although much of the subject matter discussed hereinbe low under the headings Network Control Database Maintenance Data Collection Transactions Collecting and Processing Data The Processing Software The Communications Software System Screen Painter The System Report Writer and Administration is known relating to drawing FIGS 6 21 such subject matter is helpful in understanding the associated subject matter of the present invention Network Control Once the network has been properly configured and tested and is operational the user can use the system s network control utilities to monitor and control the system 10 and download validation tables and transaction definitions to co processor card 12 The user can monitor and control the functioning of the system using the Executive Control screen shown in FIG
10. information is called transaction data or a com plete transaction A transaction can be any one of three types The trans action type determines how the collected data is processed Interactive transactions provide feedback back to the com puter terminal On line transactions take the collected data and send the data to another computer i e a host Standard transactions are any transactions that are not interactive or on line A transaction definition consists of the series of terminal prompts together with the specifications or instructions to check the operator s replies All definitions contain param eters about each piece of information to be collected and may include instructions on what to do with the collected data In the first preferred embodiment all transaction defini tions are downloaded to co processor card 12 that resides in the dedicated bar code data collection computer or work station 14 The card 12 is similar to a co processor card commercially available from Burr Brown P N TM9000 The card 12 is also known as a terminal network controller board Transaction definitions are created using a Transaction Definition utility or program To design a transaction the _ user works through a series of screen forms The first screen 45 55 60 form is the Field Definition form and is shown with information in FIG 15 It is used primarily to enter a new database table name to store the collected data
11. listing of names of created data tables or types in the name of a created table With the data deleted the user can now retrieve and modify the table definition The user can however modify a data table s definition without deleting the data of the table using a Reorganize Tables tool or program This is done by making a copy of the table making an alternate definition making the desired changes to the alternate definition using Field Defi nition and Index Maintenance screen forms and then replac ing the original table with the alternate definition A user friendly menu displays these steps and screen forms are provided for each step of the process Using the List Table Structure screen form the user can print out the structure of a table or copy the structure to an ASCII file for future reference After specifying where the 10 15 35 55 65 10 structure is to be reproduced printer or file a pop up menu provides the user with a listing of all the tables in the database The subsequent listing includes all columns their attributes and all key definitions for the table Once data tables have been defined created and filled with data the system provides a plurality of utilities to maintain the information in the data tables The first utility allows the user to bring in data in an ASCH format The first step of importing is to use the Import Maintenance screen form shown in FIG 13 to specify the
12. origin of the data to import and the desired destination of the data The form is used to select a database table to receive the data indicate how the data should be inserted in the table and to specify the file containing the data to be imported Essentially the first step defines a link between an ASCII file and a database data table The screen form is completed once for each table that will receive imported data and the import definition can be modified if necessary The screen form is made up of fields and a scrollable region The user must select a table to receive the imported data as well as the format of the incoming data Data can be either fixed or variable in length If each record in the data is the same length the fixed file type F should be selected In addition the fixed record length the number of characters contained in one record of the file to be imported must be specified If the records in the data to be imported have different lengths and are separated by a field separator the variable field type V should be selected In this case the user must specify the field separator i c a slash or maybe a vertical line The Auto Update feature exists because there is a possibility that imported data might duplicate information in a table that accepts only unique information A Y entry indicates the table record will be updated with the incoming data and a N entry will defeat the auto updating
13. the transaction log file US Patent May 5 1998 Sheet 3 of 13 5 748 899 Figure 3 CONFIGURE BAR CODE TERMINALS Driver Number 1 Line Number 1 Term No Name Type Aux Module Figure 4 BAR CODE EXECUTIVE CONTROL Driver ID 1 STATUS Date Time User Bar Code Executive ACTIVE 09 29 88 15 53 14 System Network Polling ENABLED 09 29 88 13 54 34 abc Extended Processing ENABLED 09 29 88 13 54 34 abc Transaction Tracing TO SCREEN 09 29 88 13 54 34 abc Transaction Tracing ENABLED 09 29 88 13 54 34 abc Command U S Patent May 5 1998 Sheet 4 of 13 5 748 899 Figure 5 Emp Name Dept No Anderson 001 Brooks 002 Davis 003 Clark 001 Figure 6 INDEX EMPLOYEE TABLE Anderson Brooks Clark Davis U S Patent May 5 1998 Sheet 5 of 13 5 748 899 Figure 7 DATA COLLECTIONS APPLICATIONS APPLICATIONS DEVELOPMENT HOST COMMUNICATIONS THE SCHEDULER SELECTION Figure 8 ABSENCES BY BADGE Employee Badge Number 0001 Employee Name Anderson Date Code Reason 09 23 87 Vacation 09 26 87 Sick 09 27 87 Vacation U S Patent May 5 1998 Sheet 6 of 13 5 748 899 Figure 9 FIELD DEFINITION Table Name Desc Data Table Created Column Name Col Col No Entry Input Mask Range Test Type Len Dec RF From To WON AUS WMH e Figure 10 FIELD DEFINITION Table Name EMPLOYEE Desc Company Employees Data Table Created N Column Name Col Col No Entry Input Mas
14. to display hierarchal menus Each numbered item or choice on the first menu often invokes another menu of choices This sub menu may in turn invoke another sub menu A typical menu is shown in FIG 7 When the user chooses an item that item s menu is layered on top of the previous menu In this way the user can always see his position in the hierarchy at a glance As familiarity with the system increases the user can quickly access sub menu choices by simply typing the numbers of the menu items desired with each number separated by a space For example to select the third choice on the first sub menu the user would enter 1 3 When a menu item does not display another menu of choices a screen form is displayed Forms provide the user with a view of the database tables that store the data The three main uses of screen forms are for entering information into the database retrieving information from the database or updating i e modifying database information Forms are made up primarily of fields that display or accept information allowing the user to modify or view database data A message area of the screen is used for prompts and messages to help the user For example the user might be prompted to confirm a request Screen form fields are either display only or entry While display only fields only display information to the user entry fields display to and accept information from the user Fields ca
15. user specify how if at all the data in the table can be modified While the data can always be viewed the user specifies whether or not the table data can be deleted modified or if new data can be added to the table The defined screen form must then be physically created Similarly a listing of the information in a specific data base table can be quickly created using the Auto Report Generator screen form Reports that display data from multiple tables can be created using the system report writer discussed in greater detail below After selecting a table and the key from pop up menus the report will use to retrieve and order the report data the user selects which data will be reported by selecting col umns also from pop up menus Each column s name will 10 15 25 30 35 12 appear in the report as a column header The auto report definition is created after the user specifies whether the report will be sent to the terminal display or the printer Data Collection Transactions With the database defined the user must define how to collect bar code data and process that data utilizing the database While the term transaction can describe an entire pro cess of data collection it can also be used to describe a single part of this process For example to perform a transaction the operator scans information in response to the prompts that appear on the bar code terminal display The collected
16. 4 This form can be used to start and stop network polling of the co processor card 4 for transactions start and stop extended processing execution of processing programs start and stop tracing of all activity on the network view totals of polled and queued transactions and to view bar code network errors The network polling option acts as a toggle to enable or disable this function The status column indicates whether or not polling is currently enabled or disabled When polling is first disabled the system will process the transactions already in log file 17 Disabling polling closes the transac tion log file and error log file allowing the user to backup or purge these files without powering down the system 10 15 35 6 Although polling is disabled for back ups and purges card 12 continues to queue transactions The extended processing option acts as a toggle to enable or disable the processing of transactions As described herein in greater detail when processing is enabled the system 10 takes transactions from log file 17 initiates execution of the processing program if one exists and then updates the status to reflect the processing outcome Disabling processing closes all data tables opened during processing allowing the data in these tables to be backed up When processing is first disabled transactions awaiting processing will remain unchanged in log file 17 until this option is enabled Although processing
17. United States Patent 19 Aldrich 54 U5 73 21 22 63 1 52 58 56 METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING AND PROCESSING BAR CODE DATA Inventor Rodney D Aldrich Brighton Mich Lowry Computer Products Inc Brighton Mich Assignee Appl No Filed 805 061 Feb 24 1997 Related U S Application Data Continuation of Ser No 448 893 May 24 1995 aban doned which is a continuation of Ser No 692 730 Apr 29 1991 abandoned which is a continuation of Ser No 579 931 Sep 7 1990 abandoned Int CL Lam GUGF 15 177 US CL aininn 395 200 52 395 500 Field of Search 395 200 5 200 51 395 200 52 500 References Cited U S PATENT DOCUMENTS 4 266 271 5 1981 Chamoff et al 395 200 39 4 588 881 5 1986 Pejas et al ess 235 385 4 723212 2 1988 Mindrum et al ee 395 214 4 816 824 3 1989 Katz et al mo 340 825 34 4 866257 9 1989 Elliott et al wee 235 436 4 912 309 3 1990 Danielson et al 235 380 US005748899A 11 Patent Number 5 748 899 45 Date of Patent May 5 1998 4 920 488 4 1990 Fille se 395 228 4 947 028 8 1990 Gorog man 395 226 5 036 479 7 1991 Prednis et al m 364 571 02 5 077 694 12 1991 Sansone et al ce 395 615 5 079 714 1 1992 Manduley et al 364 478 07 5 125 091 6 1992 Staas et al cc 395 671 5 159 180 10 1992 Feiler 235 375 5 239 487 8 1993 Horejsi et al
18. a method is provided for setting up a bar code network from a central location according to the requirements of a user for use with a host computer The network includes at least one data collection terminal and a controller for transmitting and receiving bar code data to and from the at least one terminal over a communications line The method includes the steps of selecting the at least one database configuring the at least one terminal and testing the at least one terminal Each of the steps of selecting config uring and testing is performed from the central location Also provided are systems for carrying the above meth ods The advantages of the above noted method and corre sponding system are numerous For example the complete network of data collection terminals can be tested from a central location without having to test each terminal out in a factory or manufacturing plant where the terminals are typically used At the central location the entire network is tested with an easy to use screen The above objects and other objects and features of the invention will be readily known to one of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connec tion with the accompanying drawings BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES FIG 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a personal computer data collection and processing network utilizing the method and sy
19. and processed Depending on requirements the routine editing and validating done by the card 12 as specified in the transaction definition may be all the pro cessing needed If more powerful processing is required the user can specify extended processing If extended processing is required the user can develop Processing programs using processing software developed especially for processing transaction data collected from a network of bar code terminals The software may be devel oped using the C Programming Language a powerful lan guage well known to those of ordinary skill in the art The programming capabilities provided by the software discussed in greater detail below include mathematical calculations use of WHILE loops and if then else logic In addition a wide range of database calls permit the user to insert update delete or retrieve database records as required The user can also specify interaction with terminal display screens or specify communication with other terminals printers and the like To collect bar code data the operator enters a transaction definition number at a bar code terminal The co processor card responds by sending the prompts for the transaction defined in the transaction definition to the terminal display As the operator responds to the prompts by entering the 5 748 899 15 requested data the card validates and edits the data as specified in the transaction definition When all of the requeste
20. as rejected and the log file status is updated to a 3 to indicate failed communications 5 748 899 19 System Screen Painter The system offers three tools for creating screen forms These are the Auto Screen Generator the processing soft ware s screen painter and the System Screen Painter The first two are discussed in greater detail herein above The System Screen Painter is similar is nature to the screen painters associated with other commercially available data base packages such as Paradox and RBase Unlike the Auto Screen Generator which allows the user to define basic screens that access a single database table and the processing software s screen painter which allows the user to create special screens controlled solely by processing programs the System Screen Painter allows the user to create all types of screen simple entry screens to detailed screens that interact with multiple tables and display numerous rows of data at once This tool makes it easy to define even the most complex screens This tool can also be used to enhance an existing basic screen The usual variety of screen forms allow the user to specify all aspects of screen forms After naming the screen the user defines the display characteristics borders cursors etc defines the size of the scrollable regions defines the screen layout where fields will be positioned defines the field attributes display only must fill required entry
21. ber each control line contains each of the section labels In this way the control lines direct the program to the code blocks to be executed The control lines can also contain messages that are displayed on the entry screen at a certain row and column position if the transaction is accepted by host computer 16 The Screen section selects the proper entry screen on host computer 16 This section specifies the row and column position to fill the value to insert and an accept instruc tion which indicates to host computer 16 that data entry is complete FIG 21 shows a Payroll Menu screen to be selected To select this screen the Screen section would specify filling row 20 column 15 with a 1 This would result in the clock in screen being selected Once the appropriate screen has been selected the Fill section takes each value from the transaction and inserts it in the designated position on the screen Each instruction line in this block contains a row and column position indicator and a transaction field number The value from that field is then used to fill the screen An accept instruction indicates that data entry for this transaction is complete A sample Fill section for a transaction definition number 10 is shown in FIG 22 Recall that FIG 15 shows the Field Definition form for that transaction definition When the first line of this Fill section is executed the value from transac tion field number 1 emp no w
22. ble is declared the primary table and each subsequent table is paired to the preceding table Then for each pair of tables a common column is selected and used to line up related records from each table This relationship is used to gather information from cach table and display it as one report line After the tables have been specified the user specifies if that table s contribution to the report is required For example let it be assumed that a Tools Out report shows which tools are out by tool IDA and how much that tool cost Because the objective of the report is to see what tools have been logged out of a tool crib if the tool ID can not be determined then the tool cost should not be reported In this case the table contributing the tool ID is said to be required The user also controls the look of the report by deciding where to place fields and text on the report The user also has 10 15 25 35 55 20 the option of specifying the report to display data in either ascending or descending order or restricting the report contents by eliminating records from the report based on values contained in any column For example a report shows tools checked out to a certain department by speci fying a condition on the department column Administration The system 10 also provides utilities to handle the known administrative aspects of database packages in general These aspects include system security and backup
23. ction number of the transaction to be executed immediately after the present transaction is completed This is called chaining the transactions together The Start Chain Here field indicates which transaction is the first of the chain The Repeat Transaction feature is helpful and time saving if a terminal is used continually for the same trans action A Y entry will result in the transaction being executed indefinitely The Data Table Created is a display only field and informs the user if the physical table has been created again the physical table is NOT created simply by defining it The remainder of the screen form the scrollable region is identical the Field Definition screen form used to define database tables already discussed in great detail above The reader is hereby referred to that discussion for an explana tion of the scrollable region After completing the Field Definition form the user completes the Prompts and Validation screen form This form is used to enter a prompt for each column specified on the Field Definition form These prompts will be displayed on the bar code workstation 14 while the user is performing the transaction Also the user specifies an existing table for validation of collected information A Prompts and Valida tion form is shown in FIG 16 The upper portion of the form contains three fields and all are display only fields They contain the transaction
24. d data has been entered successfully the complete transaction is saved on the card Meanwhile the system 10 is polling the card 12 looking for completed transactions When a complete transaction is found the system 10 transfers it to transaction log file 17 which resides on the hard disk of fileserver 18 in the LAN configuration of FIG 1 FIG 2 shows the path of the transaction data from the bar code computer workstation 14 to log file 17 As the system inserts the transaction into log file 17 a status is assigned to the new record A status indicates the next action to taken with the transaction Depending on the transaction type defined in the transaction definition it indicates what kind of extended processing to perform this initial status will be a 9 for on line transactions 10 for standard transactions or 11 for interactive transactions If the transaction has a status of 11 the transaction is an interactive transaction As previously described for interac tive transactions the bar code terminal waits for feedback from the processing program before allowing the user to begin a new transactions To provide quick feedback to the terminal these transactions are given highest priority Accordingly as soon as the systems finds an interactive transaction it locates and executes the processing program created for that transaction After extended processing has occurred the log file status is updated to r
25. data the pri mary purpose of indexes on transaction tables is to set up unique fields The Index Maintenance screen form is utilized for creat ing the index es The Index form for transaction tables is identical to the Index form for database tables shown in FIGS 11 and 12 The screen form s fields were discussed in great detail above The reader is hereby referred to that discussion for an explanation of the form With the transaction table s structure defined field and key definitions the physical table that will actually store the collected data needs to be created Similar to database table 10 15 35 45 55 65 14 creation this is accomplished through the Data Table Creation screen form The user either uses a pop menu to display a listing of names of data tables defined but not yet created or types in the name of a table Duplicate table names are unacceptable Once the table has been created the Data Table Dele tion screen form can be used to delete a transaction table and the collected data it stores This deletion will not affect the table definition or structure The user either uses a pop menu to display a listing of names of created transaction data tables or types in the name of a created table With the data deleted the user can now retrieve and modify the table definition The user can however modify a transaction table s definition without deleting the data of the table using a Reorgani
26. e as the central location means for designating any one of said workstations as the central location wherein said configuring step includes emulating said host computer terminal by associating individual bar code data fields contained in said bar code transactions with the row and column locations of host data fields on said host screen to thereby configure said bar code network to supply bar code transactions to said host computer as if entered through said host computer terminal wherein said means of selecting a database determines a storage location for incoming transactions selects a processing unit for processing bar code data and com municates said terminals with validation data and pro cessing programs wherein said testing means comprises means for selecting the terminals to be tested means for selecting a dura tion test to be conducted and means for reporting test results and wherein said testing means tests the communication lines of the terminals selected for testing 6 The system as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a bar code printer and means for assigning the bar code printer to any of the terminals from the central location and means for presenting screen forms to a user at the central location to assist the user in using said data base selecting means said terminal configuration means and said testing means 7 The system as claimed in claim 5 further comprising means for configuring the communicati
27. ecific blocks The main block typically 5 748 899 17 contains the basic operation of the program and the routines carry out the details Programs using routines are thus easier to read understand and modify In addition to processing data collected from bar code transactions the processing software can also be used to create programs that process data from screen transactions These transactions do not involve bar code transactions and are run from a user menu Developing and running these Screen processing programs involves creating the screen using the processing software s screen painter and using the processing software s editor to write a program that will display the screen and process the user s entries To gather data from a screen the program must first call up the screen and then wait for the operator to enter the data The data can then be processed as described above The processing software s screen painter is similar in nature to the screen painters accompanying the commer cially available Paradox and RBase database systems The painter allows the user to design and define special screen forms that are controlled by processing programs Like the screen forms discussed above these forms display and or accept information Unlike the other screen forms however which are accessed by menu processing language screen forms are accessed by a processing program To create processing software screens the user def
28. eeds have expanded this has become an increasingly time consuming process Specifically one prior art approach to the problem allowed the import of data into the database However a problem with that approach is that if more than one trans action is entered from multiple terminals the system must wait for each transaction to be separately processed Another prior art approach is to collect and process bar code data on line and in real time utilizing database and transaction definition logic and at least one workstation having multi tasking capability so that transactions are pro cessed substantially simultaneously That prior system is 10 15 35 45 55 2 also capable of collecting and processing bar code data on line and in real time utilizing a host computer and at least one workstation having multi tasking capability so that transactions are processed substantially simultaneously and wherein a terminal of the host computer is emulated Such prior system is shown in FIGS 6 21 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of the present invention is to provide method and system for setting up a bar code network including at least one data collection terminal for use with a host computer having at least one database wherein the at least one database is selected and the at least one terminal is configured and tested from a central location In carrying out the above object and other objects of the present invention
29. eflect the outcome The new status is a 1 if the processing was successfully completed No further processing will be performed on the data If there was a processing error the new status reflects the appropriate error code The user can then view the error change the status and resubmit the data for processing FIG 17 shows this extended processing path If the transaction has a status of 9 the transaction is an on line transaction When a transaction is defined to be an on line transaction further processing is pending i e awaits host communications Providing for host communi cations allows the user to define the host communications environment in terms of the type of host computer such as a mainframe or minicomputer This allows users to take advantage of the speed and accuracy of on line bar code data collection without making hardware or software changes to an existing system which usually represents an already significant investment The system 10 uses special communications software discussed below to emulate a mainframe host system terminal and transfer the bar code data collected from transactions to the mainframe host 16 The individual data fields contained in the transactions are placed on the main frame screen in the same row and column that they would be entered into if the user was typing the data on to the screen The row and column that each data field is to be placed in is specified in the communication
30. essor card 12 There are two lines for each card After a line has been specified the user may configure the communications for the line using a pop up menu This menu allows the user to set the baud rate the number of data and stop bits the parity and any terminators Default values are provided for those who are unfamiliar in specifying communications The remainder of the configure screen contains a scrol lable region 26 The Term No is a display only field and refers to the terminal number 1 32 The terminal number represents the address given to the terminal when it was installed The Name Type and Aux Mode configu ration parameters will be assigned to the terminal at that address on the specified line of co processor card 12 The Name column is also a display only field and automatically displays each terminal name A name consists of the card A the line 1 2 and the address 1 32 For example name A102 represents the terminal at address 02 attached to line 1 of card A The Type column is used to specify the terminal model number A pop up menu provides the available model num bers This information is used by the software for things like setting default communication parameters The Aux Module column is used to specify the auxil iary module for each terminal The user can select serial UDI or none If serial or UDI is chosen a pop up menu appears and allows the user to configure
31. facilitate full use of system applications the user can copy data tables transaction definitions screens reports and menus from one database to another After specifying the source and destination databases they must be different pop up menus display the items that are transferrable to the destination database The system 10 can be used on either monochrome or color displays On color displays the system uses different color to represent different screen areas and types of information The user can customize these color combinations to suit his needs It is understood of course that while the forms of the invention herein shown and described constitute the pre ferred embodiments of the invention they arc not intended to illustrate all possible forms thereof It will also be understood that the words used are words of description rather than limitation and that various changes may be made without departing form the spirit and scope of the invention disclosed I claim 1 A method for setting up a bar code network from a central location according to the requirements of a user for use with a host computer operable through a host computer terminal having at least one host screen with host data fields at predetermined row and column locations having at least one database the bar code network including a plurality of data collection terminals a plurality of workstations and a controller for transmitting and receiving bar code data made
32. he index For the Key Type column a pop up menu provides choices for either an ascending ordering of information or a descending ordering of information The user uses the Key Attributes column to indicate whether the field store duplicate or unique values Specify ing a unique attributes ensures that values are not duplicated inthe column For example if the table s key is an employee identification number and it is specified as unique an attempt to enter the same number twice will fail The remainder of the fields shown on the form are display only fields used to display the definition just created A completed key definition Index Maintenance screen form is shown in FIG 12 Key definitions can be modified and deleted When a definition is deleted the key numbers will be adjusted accordingly Once the table s structure has been defined field and key definitions the physical table that will actually store the entered data is created This is accomplished through a user friendly Data Table Creation screen form The user either uses a pop menu to display a listing of names of data tables defined but not yet created or types in the name of a table Duplicate table names are unacceptable Once a table has been created the Data Table Deletion screen form can be used to delete a table and the data it stores This deletion will not affect the table definition or structure The user either uses a pop menu to display a
33. he user with a listing of all data tables When one is selected for updating the function retrieves the most current values from the database table columns selected for validation creates the validation tables and downloads them to card 12 Entered data is then compared against the updated validation tables Similarly all transaction definitions are downloaded to card 12 when network 11 is initialized The user selects a transaction number a new transaction description file is created and downloaded to card 12 The present invention makes use of a relational database which contains tables made up of rows and columns of information The column s name typically describes the category or type of information stored in that column For example a table named EMPLOYEE might have columns names employee number employee name and depart ment number A row stores one value for each of the columns of any table Because a row provides all of the information for one entry in the table rows are also referred to as records A sample EMPLOYEE table is shown in FIG 5 When the user wants to retrieve data i e a record from the database a computer may look through the entire table examining each and every record Because this could take a considerable amount of time if the table is large the present invention makes use of an index to speed data retrieval The 5 748 899 7 system maintains indexes of particular columns that have bee
34. ines the screen s display characteristics i e if there will be a border places text and field markers and defines the screen s fields attributes The processing software also provides an editor to aid in the creation and modification of processing programs The editor is similar in nature to commercially available editors When using the editor special keys and key sequences are used to perform tasks usually associated with an editor These tasks for instance include inserting and or deleting text and cutting and pasting blocks of text Screen forms are provided to assist the user in creating the program These forms help the user select an existing program to modify or create a new program select the tables that will be affected by the program specify the screens created by the screen painter that will be called by the program and enter the actual command instructions of the program The Communications Software When the system finds an on line transaction on card 12 the system invokes the communications software to set up communication for the on line transactions The communi cation software is includes three modules or programs a sign on program a main or command program and a sign off program The sign on program is used to sign on the bar code workstation 14 to the mainframe host computer 16 and it s software and selects the appropriate host screen For example the sign on program might select a host comput
35. is disabled transac tions are still inserted in log file 17 assuming polling is enabled they just are not being removed from the file and processed The transaction tracing option allows the user to display the transactions being handled by the system A pop up menu lets the user disable the option or send the tracing information to the screen a file or a printer Although enabling tracing will degrade system performance it is often useful for trouble shooting As transactions are removed from co processor card 12 the system 10 maintains a count of the transactions Using a screen form the user can view all polling and transaction activity for a driver A Poll Total field shows how many transactions were pulled off of card 12 A Transaction Total field shows the number of transactions that were processed by processing programs A scrollable region dis plays polling total for each bar code terminal 22 on the network 11 Lastly errors occurring on network 11 can be viewed After specifying a starting date a scrollable region will contain all the errors that have occurred on or since that date Each time network 11 is initialized validation tables are automatically downloaded to co processor card 12 Since it is common to modify database data throughout the day the user can send updated validation tables to card 12 one at a 45 55 time using the Download a Validation Table tool A pop up menu provides t
36. k Range Test Type Len Dec RF From To 1 emp no 2 emp name 3 dept no US Patent May 5 1998 Sheet 7 of 13 5 748 899 Figure 11 INDEX MAINTENANCE Table Name Key No Key Type Key Attributes Key Seg Column Key No No Column Name Type Len Dec Key Type Attributes Figure 12 INDEX MAINTENANCE Table Name EMPLOYEE Key No 1 Key Type A Key Attributes U Key Seg Column Key aame No No Column Name Type Len Dec Key Type Attributes emp no 5 0 Ascending Unique emp name 20 OQ Ascending Duplicates U S Patent May 5 1998 Sheet 8 of 13 5 748 899 Figure 13 IMPORT MAINTENANCE Table Name File Type F V Field Separator Fixed Record Length Auto Update Fast File Open DOS Path Field No Field Start Field Length Column Name owo uountumwu oOooocoooocooo oooooooooo Figure 14 PURGE MAINTENANCE Table Name Purge Mode Retention Period Column Name Fast Open DOS Path U S Patent Transaction 10 Online Communications N Chain to Trans No 0 Interactive Trans Insert Trans in Table Column Name 1 emp no 2 tool ID 3 date out 4 time out 5 return Transaction 10 Column Name 1 employee 2 tool ID 3 date out 4 time out 5 return May 5 1998 Sheet 9 of 13 5 748 899 Figure 15 FIELD DEFINITION Desc LOG OUT TOOLS Table Name LOG_OUT N Repeat Transaction N Data Table Created N N Start Chain Here Y
37. known sample host payroll menu and FIG 22 is a diagram of a fill code block BEST MODE S FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawing figures there is illustrated in FIG 1 a system generally indicated at 10 for collecting and processing bar code data The system 10 includes a bar code data collection network generally indicated at 11 a plurality of workstations 14 and 14 and a host computer 16 The system 10 is illustrated as a local area network LAN further including a file server 18 and a gateway 20 connected to host computer 16 However it is to be understood that a single workstation connected directly to the host computer 16 may also utilize the method and system of the present invention The file server 18 may be a LAN server with a 286 type microprocessor a 70 MB hard drive with a Novell Network 2 MB RAM a monochromatic display and a 1 2 MB floppy disk drive The gateway 20 may be a LAN gateway workstation with a 286 type microprocessor The workstation 14 may be a LAN terminal network controller with a 286 type microprocessor capable of han dling 64 devices The workstation 14 may have an installed Ethernet and controller card have a monochrome display and a 1 2 MB floppy disk drive The network 11 includes bar code data collection termi nals 22 connected to a controller or bar code workstation 14 that sends and receives data to and from the bar code data collection terminals Before tran
38. language program Once the communications software is executed the status of the transaction is updated to reflect the outcome The new status is a 10 if the processing was successfully com pleted No further processing is performed on the data If there was a processing error the new status is a 3 The user can then view the error change the status and resubmit the data for processing FIG 18 outlines this extended process ing path If the transaction has a status of 10 the transaction is a standard transaction Standard transactions carry the lowest priority of the transaction types If all of the transactions on the card have been pulled off and there are no interactive transactions pending the system begins to process standard transactions 10 15 35 45 55 16 This processing includes executing a processing program similar to interactive transactions After extended process ing has occurred the log file status is updated to reflect the outcome If the processing was successfully completed no further processing is performed on the data If there was a processing error the new status reflects the appropriate error code The user can then view the error change the status and resubmit the data for processing FIG 17 shows this extended processing path The Processing Software As noted above the software used to develop processing programs may be written the C programming language The processi
39. liminated Accuracies of over 99 are the norm Language barriers are non existent in fact reading ability may not even be a factor as audible signals replace text as the means to indicate successful unsuccessful completion of data entry While the use of bar codes in the United States dates from the 1950 s only recently has bar code technology been combined with another well known and proven technology the database By combining these technologies powerful features can exist for collecting data and utilizing the database for processing the data U S Pat No 4 912 309 discloses a point of sale system comprising a terminal with input or output devices including a manual data input a coded data input ie bar code scanner an on line display and a hard copy output A primary processing module has ten expansion connectors such that the primary module can become any level of processor from powerful peripheral controller to a master processor with a large non volatile database Previous attempts of combining bar code data collection with a database offered little interaction between the data collection system and the database The results of the bar code scanning were placed in a file The operator then designed and developed a separate program whose purpose was to interact with the database If the data collected was to be added to the database another program had to be written to import the data into the database As data collec tion n
40. ll adds new information to the database table Prior to updating the database the user may wish to perform calculations on the data Values used in calculations can come from the transaction itself database tables or even temporary variables Typical mathematical operators are available for use i e x and 9b Database calls can also be used to retrieve data already stored in the database and compare it to the collected data This provides the user with the option to validate data prior to further manipulation Once the data is validated the user can subject the data to a plurality of logic tests using the if else and or while command statements The scope of processing capabilities is expanded by supplementing these statement with logical operators Le lt gt etc As is known these statements allow the user to determine if the data meets further criteria prior to modifying it or inserting it in a table Because the outcome of these tests control the execution of the program these command statements are also referred to as control statements Because programs often use the same set of command statements in more than one situation routines can be created Once established one command statement can be used to perform the routine As is known program operation continues at the point in the program at which the routine was called Using routines also helps to structure the pro gram into task sp
41. mask character is X For the remaining types the default mask character is 9 Date columns also include slashes time columns include colons and numeric columns contain a decimal point For example an input mask as seen on a screen form for a character type is XXXXXX and an input mask for a date type is 99 99 99 Special mask characters can also be used to customize data table structure and content If a character position in the input mask id enclosed in square brackets D incoming characters in those positions will be stripped off and not stored in the database If a character s is placed inside angled brackets lt gt any one of those character is allowed as an entry If a character is enclosed in quotes 7 the incoming character must match it exactly This is used for validation purposes And if the input mask contains the pound sign the incoming piece of information must contain a value for each position of the mask having the sign For example lt ABC gt XXX is a mask for a four 4 character column where the first position can accept an A B or C and the remaining positions can accept any printable character And lt AL gt is a mask for a three 3 character column where the first position can accept either an A or an L and values like 3 and 6 for the last two positions but stores the data as 36 For numeric or integer columns the user can also specify a range for the incoming value By entering
42. n be defined to display and or accept the known character numeric integer long integer date or time data types To simplify the use of the entry fields the user may be able to pop up a menu of valid entries The user can then select an entry from the pop up menu or typing an entry without using the menu Screen forms may have scrollable regions Scrollable regions display rows and columns of information Often there is too much information to fit onto one screen By using certain keyboard keys the user can scroll i e move information into and out off these regions A screen form having scrollable region 28 is shown in FIG 8 10 15 35 45 55 65 8 Database Maintenance To define a database data table structure and then create the physical table the user uses screen forms The first form is used to define fields and is shown in FIG 9 The user must first specify a unique name for each table and give a brief description of the general type of data to be stored The Data Table Created field is a display only field and informs the user if the physical table has been created the physical table is NOT created by defining it A scrollable region 30 is used to define the columns of information to be stored in the table For each column of the table the user must specify the attributes regarding column name column type column length decimal places user entry masking and validation Column name sh
43. n designated by the user as keys A database index is analogous to the index found in a book A book s index contains topics i e car engines and pointers i e page numbers to where each topic is located Similarly a database index contains topics and pointers The topics are values of columns designated as keys ie employee numbers and the pointers point to the record that actually contains each value FIG 6 is a graphic represen tation of an index and its relationship to a table In addition to speeding data retrieval designating col umns as keys can permit data to be retrieved in a certain order For example if the employee number column was designated as a key employee records can be retrieved in employee number order even though they are Stored in alphabetical order While an index typically stores values for only one key column of a table it is sometimes desirable to combine two or more columns to make one key If two columns are combined each column is a segment of the two segment key By using two segment keys records containing a particular combination of values can be located quickly and efficiently in one search For flexibility the present invention enables the user to create up to a five segment key Before data can be retrieved from the database table the database tables must be defined and created The present invention makes full use of user friendly screens to accom plish these tasks The screens are used
44. ng programs are typically designed for processing transaction data collected from a network of bar code terminals Essentially processing programs are written to manipulate collected information Such programs can pro cess data that is already stored in a database or they can handle data as it is being collected The processing programs consist of comments and com mand statements A comment as is well known is a program statement that is not executed Typically comment lines describe what the subsequent command statement will accomplish Command statements however contain instructions to be executed by the computer The program ming language offers the usual assortment of types of command statements giving the user flexibility to handle almost any processing requirement For example the user can define temporary variables specify mathematical calculations if else logic and while loops use database calls for inserting updating deleting or retrieving database records as required specify interaction with terminal display screens or specify communication with other terminals printers and the like Temporary variables are used to store the results of program calculations and other command statements Typically the objective of a program is to add delete or update database tables These tasks are accomplished using database command statements or calls Database calls specify the action to be taken For example the insert ca
45. number table name and transaction description provided by the user on the Field Definition form The lower portion is a scrollable region The column name field is also display only and displays all of the column names entered on the Field Definition form The Bar Code Prompt field contains the exact prompt the user wants to appear on the computer workstation 14 The validation feature allows the collected data to be compared to values already stored in the database For example a table could be checked to insure the entered employee number is valid A table name key number and segment must be specified for validation to occur Pop up boxes provides the user with database tables and their respective keys From the table key and segment specified the system then builds a validation table that is downloaded to card 12 The validation table contains all of the values stored in the database table key column s selected for validation The system regenerates each validation table every time the bar code network is re initialized keeping the tables up to date with changes to the database The next step in defining a transaction is to create one or more indexes for the table that will store the collected data As stated above all tables must have at least one index whether the table is a database data table or a transaction data table Since transaction data tables are not accessed frequently typically they only log collected
46. ons line for each of the terminals and workstations from the central location and for providing to a user at the central location default com munications values for each communications line 8 The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the bar code network collects bar code transactions and wherein the system further comprises means for generating maintaining and updating a backup copy of the bar code transactions as said bar code transaction data is collected xk x
47. ould be inserted on the screen at row 10 and column 20 Similarly the value from transaction field number 2 tool ID would be inserted at row 12 and column 20 The purpose of the Exit block is to return the operator to the screen first selected by the sign on program In effect this block reverses the action of the Screen block which found the appropriate screen for data insertion This block is used when an incoming transaction is different from the previous transaction i e a different screen will be used One this block is executed the Screen block for the new transaction can select the appropriate entry screen The Error section is executed only when the entered data is rejected by host computer 16 After the accept instruc tion that follows any instructions to fill a screen the Com mand Program checks the host screen to see if the data was accepted or rejected Each control line has a message and specifies where that message will be displayed on the entry screen if the transaction is accepted by host computer 16 as previously noted For example if the control line specifies the message ok to appear at row 23 and column 2 the Command Program checks row 23 and column 2 for the message after executing an accept instruction If the message is there the transaction data was accepted The log file status is then updated to a 10 to indicate successful communication If the message was not there the transac tion w
48. ould identify the type of field to be stored in the column while column type should identify the type of information to be store in the column Possible types include character any printable characters integer long integer numeric date month day year time in military format or sub field The sub field option should be chosen to create a column out of a portion of the previously defined character column For example if a ten 10 character Project ID character column is defined a three 3 character sub field could be defined on the next line The main column would store the entire piece of data however For character and sub field columns the user specifies the maximum number of characters this field can store For the other field types this column is display only column and a value representing bytes of memory automatically appears If the column is defined to be numeric the user specifies the number of decimal places allowed The user entry attributes are used to indicate if user entry is required Entry R attribute and if the user entry must fill the width of the column Entry F attribute Y or N are valid entries for these attributes The input mask field is initially displayed with a sufficient number of default mask characters to fill the column Default mask characters are used to indicate the type of data to be stored in the field For the character and sub field types the default
49. s menu maintenance file management and changing screen colors The Security System provides the ability to restrict user access to functions Menu items and data tables have secu rity levels and group numbers Users also have security levels and group numbers In order to invoke a menu item or manipulate a data table s contents the user must have a security level greater than or equal to that of the menu item s level and belong to the item s group This two tiered approach allows the system to be customized so that per sonnel can access only appropriate menu items and data tables Security levels and groups can be modified to add or delete users In addition as screens and reports are generated and data tables are created security levels and groups can be defined for these items The Menu Maintenance utility allows the user to create and modify menus as screens reports and programs are created In addition to creating altogether new menus exist ing menus and sub menus can be reorganized by adding new items and deleting unused items to suit expanding needs When desired the user can perform a backup of infor mation onto floppy disks All information in the database can be backed up or all information in the database plus the system software can be backed up In addition user defined and created screens reports and menus can also be backed This information can then be recalled using the known Restore DOS command In order to
50. sactions can be sent across the network from the terminals to the workstation 14 to be processed the network must be setup To do this the user must select a database configure and test the terminals 22 configure mirror imaging and assign printers such as printer 24 to a terminal Screen forms assist the user throughout the setup process When the user selects a database the user is actually assigning a co processor card 12 as indicated in FIG 2 of the workstation 14 to the database A pop up menu lists the available database to select This assignment tells the system where to put incoming transactions as well as where to find the appropriate validation data and processing programs In a preferred embodiment the system 16 is designed for use on IBM s OS 2 operating system In this embodiment a co processor card does not have to be installed in the dedicated bar code collection workstation 14 10 15 35 45 55 4 The hardware associated with the OS 2 environment performs the same tasks as co processor card 12 This embodiment supports all of the system features and options of the first embodiment as discussed below Transaction definitions and validation tables are stored in memory instead of being downloaded to the card 12 Routine editing and validation performed by the card 12 as described hereinbelow is still performed An example of the differences is the way in which terminal ID numbers are assigned a
51. selected a retention period and a column name is specified The retention period rep resents how many days worth of data is to be retained For example specifying 30 will result in the last 30 days of data being exempt from the purge The purge utility searches the date field of the specified column for dates beyond the retention period With the Fast Open feature the user can speed up the purging process Instead of mirror imaging the database table a backup copy of the table is made before the purging begins This is helpful if large files are being purged As data is being purged it is being placed in ASCII format in a file The DOS path as is known specifies the name and location of this file One row of this file contains one row of data from the table Fields are separated by a delimiter i e a vertical line The user can also purge the transaction logfile and the error logfile For bar code networks that handle a high volume of transactions this should be done regularly to prevent this files from becoming full With the Auto Screen Generator screen form the user can quickly create a screen form that interacts with a specific database table Screens that interact with more than one table can be created using the system screen painter discussed in greater detail below The form acts as a window into the specified table After selecting a table and key from pop up menus that will be used to access the table the
52. specify column names for each piece of information to be collected and to define attributes for each column The form is made up of two general areas The top area contains display only and entry fields which describe the transaction as a whole Below this area is a scrollable region used to define the pieces of information to be col lected by the transaction The scrollable region is identical to the scrollable region of the Field Definition form for defin ing database tables The user then enters a unique transaction number and a brief description of the type of information to be collected by the transaction A unique name is assigned to the table that will store the collected data An Online Communications field is used to indicate whether the user wants the data to be sent on line to the host mainframe computer 16 Similarly an Interactive Trans field is used to indicate whether the user wants to provide feedback to the workstation 14 before allowing a new transaction to be started For example an error message or an acceptance message could be fed back to workstation 14 If the transaction is to be automatically inserted in the transaction table as soon as the data is collected a Y entry should be placed in the Insert Trans in Table field A N entry could be used if the user wants to process the data prior to insertion into the table 5 748 899 13 The user can then indicate the transa
53. stem of the present invention FIG 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the method and system for collecting and validating a transaction FIG 3 is a diagram of a bar code terminal configuration form FIG 4 is a diagram of a bar code network executive control form FIG 5 is a diagram of a sample employee table of a relational database FIG 6 is a block diagram of a known employee table and its relationship to a database index FIG 7 is a diagram of a known data table definitions menu FIG 8 is a diagram of a known screen form having a scrollable region FIG 9 is a diagram of a known field definition form FIG 10 is a diagram of known field definitions for a sample table FIG 11 is a diagram of a known index maintenance form FIG 12 is a diagram of known field definitions for the index maintenance form 5 748 899 3 FIG 13 is a diagram of a known import maintenance form FIG 14 is a diagram of a known setup purge screen form FIG 15 is a diagram of known field definitions for a sample transaction FIG 16 is a diagram of a known prompts and validation form FIG 17 is a diagram of a known define timed transactions screen form FIG 18 is a block diagram illustrating the different known paths for transaction processing FIG 19 is a diagram illustrating known on line host communication FIG 20 is a block diagram illustrating a known common path to different entry screens FIG 21 is a diagram of a
54. the communications baud rate data and stop bits parity handshake and 5 748 899 5 location Again default values are provided for those unfamiliar with communication parameters After configuring the terminals 22 the user must test the terminals 22 for functionality and communication to the co processor card 12 A screen form allows the user to specify which terminals to test where to send the test results and how may test cycles to perform The user can select a testing of all of the terminals 22 on the network 11 or just to test one specific terminal by specifying the terminal ID A pop up menu helps the user select the terminal ID which consists of the driver line number and terminal number Testing can be accomplished by sending one message to a terminal 22 or by specifying how many times the test should be repeated The results of the test can be sent to either the terminal display or to a printer These results in the form of a report will indicate a correct communication configuration or if the configuration needs to be modified A powerful feature of the system 10 is the capability to configure mirror imaging By simply using a screen form to specify a DOS path the user can opt to maintain a mirror image of a transaction log file 17 The DOS path specifies the name and location of the duplicate file In general all transactions collected by the bar code network are stored in the transaction log file 17 Mirror
55. the minimum value in the from field and the maximum value in the 5 748 899 9 through field the user can restrict input A sample Field Definition form with information is shown in FIG 10 In addition to the user defined columns described above the system generates a DATE TIME USER ID ACTION and STATUS column for each table The DATE and TIME columns indicate when the record was inserted in the table or last updated and the USER ID columns informs who inserted or updated the record The ACTION column indi cates the last database action i e insert update etc per formed on the record and the STATUS column indicates the current status of the record The columns referred to as date and time stamping columns are automatically updated each time a record is inserted or modified The next step in defining a table is to create one or more indexes for the table This is accomplished using the Index Maintenance screen form shown in FIG 11 The Table Name and the Key No field are display only fields and displays the name of the previous table and the number of the current key definition The key number is automatically incremented as key definitions are created A pop up menu contains all of the columns of the table previously defined The user must select one or more columns to be key s for the index being created After a column has been specified the user can specify how to order information in t
56. the records of the table to be exported and to specify a destination format The user first selects a table from the pop up menu containing all of the tables in the database Next the user 5 748 899 11 selects the type of export file to create Options exist for an ASCII file fixed or variable record lengths Lotus import format or dBase III import format The records to be exported are specified After the record is exported the system generated status field of the table definition is updated to reflect that record has been exported The last utility permits obsolete data in database tables to removed Using a Purge utility the user can purge data from all of the user defined tables and most of the pre defined application tables A third purge option is for user specific inventory applications and will not be discussed in detail The Set Up Purge screen form as shown in FIG 14 is used to make a purge definition by selecting a table to purge indicating whether to purge by date or by status and specifying a location for the purge history file The form is completed once for each table to be purged Purge defini tions are also modifiable The user specifies a table to be purged A name can either be typed in or selected from the pop up menu containing table names Next a purge mode is be specified A record can be purged based on its status or it can be purged based on a date field If the date field purge mode is
57. umn 15 SELECTION Columns 1 to 80 9 Figure 22 The fill 10 block These commands fill in the entry screen with data from the transaction Transaction Field No from which data is obtained Row Column position for inerting value on screen 5 748 899 1 METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING AND PROCESSING BAR CODE DATA This is a continuation of U S patent application Ser No 08 448 893 filed May 24 1995 now abandoned which is a continuation of Ser No 07 692 730 Apr 29 1991 now abandoned which application is a continuation of U S patent application Ser No 07 579 931 filed Sep 7 1990 now abandoned TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention is related to methods and systems for setting up a bar code network of data collection terminals from a central location and testing the data collection terminals from the central location BACKGROUND ART Bar coding used for the identification of employees tools parts etc is now a well known and proven input technology Use of bar code scanning for data entry is rapidly replacing the keyboard the once dominant input technology in many applications This swift change is the result of several factors With bar code scanning overall data entry performance improves because the equipment is easy to use Less labor is involved since typing is not required Because there is no typing spelling errors and other typos are essentially e
58. ze Tables tool or program This is done by making a copy of the table making an alternate definition making the desired changes to the alternate definition using Field Definition and Index Maintenance screen forms and then replacing the original table with the alternate definition A user friendly menu displays these steps and screen forms are provided for each step of the process The user can create a timed transaction using the Define Timed Transactions screen form shown in FIG 17 Timed transactions like standard interactive and on line transactions reside on co processor card 12 But unlike the other transactions timed transactions do not collect infor mation Instead when a specified time arrives co processor card 12 electrically activates a device i e bell security gate wired to the computer workstation s digital I O port To create a timed transaction the ID of the terminal that will execute the transaction is specified An ID consists of a card number port and terminal address For example A209 is the ID of the second card with address 9 of Port 0 being used to activate the device The channel of the digital VO card is also specified The time at which the timed transaction is to activate the device is also be specified In addition the duration in seconds the digital YO card will activate the device is specified Collecting and Processing Data To make use of the database bar code data must be collected

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